bushbashing

(Click for larger image)

The anti-Bush protests in Ottawa were a huge success, drawing in numbers ranging from 20,000 (according to organizers) to 5,000 (according to the media). The photo above shows Ottawa City Hall before the march began; it's hard to see the size of the crowd but even at the time shown there was still a steady stream of people joining the group.

For more of the photos I took, click here. (You can also check out a much bigger photo set with pictures from other sources here.)

One thing I noticed was a handful of geek-themed placards, including html-coding jokes and Star Wars references (see below).

The html joke (same sign, front and back). I had to explain it to my friends, and some strangers around me. A good lesson: in general, protesters can not be expected to get jokes about computer code. (It means "stop bush", "stop war".)

Grammatical issues aside, this sign gave me a good laugh. Until I pictured life with George Lucas as President, and couldn't stop shuddering.

Despite what you may think, these guys' message to the world is not "CRAP STAR WARS". [Insert joke about crappy prequels here.] The edge of the flag is curled around, obscuring the 'S'. They are not pleased about Missile Defence. There is also, I believe, a complicated reference to U.S. Imperialism.